>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THIS IS A SPECIALLY SCHEDULED
MEETING.
OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY IS
THURSDAY, JULY 16th.
AND THE
TIME IS 2:02 PM.
I AM THE
CHAIRWOMAN OF THE COMMITTEE,
SHARMA SAWAN.
PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
[ CALLING ROLL ]
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I JUST WANTED
TO LET THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
GAVE ME INFORMATION THAT SHE HAS
A SCHEDULING CONFLICT DURING
THIS TIME WITH ANOTHER REGIONAL
COMMITTEE.
SO SHE HAS BEEN
EXCUSED AND WE APPRECIATE HER
FOR NOTIFYING OUR OFFICE.
AND
THANK YOU, COUNSEL MEMBER
PETERSON FOR JOINING US AT THIS
COMMITTEE TODAY.
IN THIS
MEETING, THE COMMITTEE WILL
DISCUSS WITH AND VOTE ON THE
FINAL FOUR COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
THE OVERSIGHT BOARD.
AFTER THESE
APPOINTMENTS, THE BOARD WILL
ONLY HAVE FOUR VACANCIES AND ONE
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT.
AND THEN
THE TWO POSITIONS THAT ARE
APPOINTED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS
THEMSELVES.
DURING THIS
MEETING.
WE WILL CONTINUE THE
DISCUSSION ON SEVERAL MATTERS
THAT ARE RELATED TO RISING RENT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTE
THAT BECAUSE IN THE LAST TWO
MONTHS, WE PUT FORWARD SEVERAL
BILLS RELATED TO ELECTIONS AND
MINIMIZING AND ELIMIN
EVICTIONS.
BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE
OTHER PROBLEMS FACED NOT JUST
THE SKYROCKETING RENT.
SO WE
WILL HEAR FROM THE PANEL OF
RENTERS FOR INSIGHT ON RISING
RENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND
IMPORTANTLY, COUNCIL MEMBERS
WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
QUESTIONS, DISCUSS OR INDICATE.
THE FIRST IS LANDLOERPDS TO
PROVIDE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
WHEN THEY DISPLACE THEIR
TENANTS, WITH OUTRAGEOUS
INCREASES.
OVER THE PAST DECADE
THERE, IS MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, FORCE
THOUSANDS FROM THEIR HOME,
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND OFTEN EVEN THE
CITY.
SOME BECOME HOMELESS
ACCORDING TO NATIONAL RECOGNIZED
STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT EVERY
HUNDRED DOLLAR INCREASE IN A
CITY RESULTS IN A 15% INCREASE
IN HOMELESSNESS IN.
SEATTLE WHEN
THOSE REPLACED BY REDEVELOPMENT
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE, BUT RENTERS ARE
FORCED TO MOVE BY RENT
INCREASES.
AND ALL THE SAME
COSTS OF HAVING TO MOVE TO A NEW
APARTMENT GET NOTHING.
THE BILL
FROM OUR OFFICE, ECONOMIC
DISPLACEMENT RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE.
BIT OF A
MOUTHFUL BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
FOR RENTERS.
WILL HELP RENTERS
WHEN THEY ARE FORCED TO MOVE BY
10% OR MORE.
I HAVE INCLUD
TODAY'S AGENDA THAT LEGISLATION.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE PUBLIC
CAN BE CONFIDENT THE BILL ON
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE THAT IS
BEING SENT FOR INTRODUCTION.
AND
I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THOSE WITH
THE BILLS, TEACHERS, THE
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE
LEGISLATION, AND FELT FREE TO
ASK QUESTIONS TO OUR MARKETING
COUNCIL STAFF WHO IS AVAILABLE
HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THE NEXT THING WE'LL DISCUSS IS
THE RENT CONTROL.
LEGISLATION.
FROM OUR OFFICE.
THAT BILL IS
BEING REVIEWED BY THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WEAN THAT
RENTERS CANNOT SIMPLY SIT BACK
AND ACCEPT THAT WASHINGTON
STATE'S DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE TO BAN
RENT CONTROL FOR THE NEXT 40
YEARS.
AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE
PREVIOUS 40.
THE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE HAS
WHAT IS CALLED A CONDITIONAL
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ALONGSIDE THE
COMBANGZ OF PUBLICLY OWNED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IF THE
COUNCIL PASSES THE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE,
STATE LAWMAKERS WILL NO LONGER
BE ABLE TO IGNORE THE ISSUE.
WE
HAVE NO DOUBT IN OUR MINDS THAT
IT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS PRESSURE
FOR THEM.
TO REPEAL THAT UNFAIR
BAN.
AS ALWAYS THE RENTER'S
COMMISSION FOR BEING SO ACTIVELY
ENGAGED AND MAKING VERY STRONG
RECOMMENDATION LIKE THIS ONE,
AND LIKE THE RENTER EVICTIONS
BAN WHICH THEY HAVE PUT FORWARD
AND THE COUNCIL PASSED MORE THAN
A YEAR AGO.
THIS SPILL
UNFORTUNATELY A LITTLE MORE
CONFUSING THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TRACKS
LEGISLATION.
IF MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC READ WHAT IS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA WITHOUT THE CHANGES,
IT IS SIMPLY SHOWING YOU WHAT
THE BILL ACTUALLY DOES WITHOUT
FILLING YOUR SCREEN WITH THE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
WE ALSO
BRING A SIX-MONTH NOTICE FOR
RENT INCREASES AND THE
ASSISTANCE BIMS FOR A VOTE AT
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH
IS A REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING.
AND I HOPE WE WILL HAVE
A FULL ATTENDANCE THERE ON JULY
27th.
IF COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE
READY TO VOTE, FEEL FREE TO ASK
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT
THE BILL THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
AND AS ALWAYS, BEFORE WE BEGIN
OUR AGENDA ITEM, WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE HAVE 20 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I
WILL READ EACH PERSON'S NAME.
AND EACH PERSON WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK BECAUSE WE HAVE
A FULL AGENDA.
AND WE HAVE
SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO THE FIRST
PERSON SIGNED UP IS DANIEL
CAVANAUGH.
FOLLOWED BY HUNTER
SABODA, AND JESSICA SAUZA.
GO
AHEAD, DANIEL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DAN.
I'M A
MEMBER OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE
AND A RENTER.
AND I'M URGING ALL
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT
THE RENTERS' RIGHTS BILL FROM
HOUSE MEMBER SAWANT.
FIRST IS A
BILL REQUIRING LANDLOERPDS TO
PROVIDE SIX-MONTH NOTICE FOR
RENT INCREASES.
AND THE SECOND
BILL MANDATING THAT LANDLORDS
PROVIDE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IN
THE ECONOMIC EFFECT OR RAISE THE
RENT THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO MOVE.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE RENT
STYLE RENTERS, THE ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS, FOR PROGRESSIVE
UNIONS LIKE UAW AND FDA,
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK, THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT, SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE,
AND COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT FOR
MAKING SERIOUS PROGRESS ON
GETTING A FULL RENTERS' BILL OF
RIGHTS FOR OUR CITY.
WE KNOW
THIS CRISIS IS ONLY DEEPENING
AND NOT LETTING UP.
SEATTLE
LANDLORDS RAISE RENTANCE AVERAGE
OF 18.7% SINCE JANUARY OF THIS
YEAR.
DOUBLE THE AVERAGE RATE OF
INCREASE NATIONALLY.
WE NEED TO
FIGHT.
AND I URGE RENTERS TO
JOIN US SEPTEMBER 18th AT 4:00
PM IN CAL ANDERSON PARK FOR OUR
RENT CONTROL NOW RALLY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ANNA SABODA,
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA SCALZO.
GO
AHEAD, ANNA.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANNA SABODA
AND I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3.
I'M CALLING IN TO URGE ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THOSE
TWO RENTERS RIGHTS BILLS FROM
COMMITTEE CHAIR MEMBER SAWANT.
ESPECIALLY THE ONE WHERE
LANDLORDS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
WHEN THEY DISPLACE THEIR TENANTS
WITH OUTRAGEOUS RENT INCREASES.
WHEN RENTERS ARE DISPLACED
BECAUSE OF MASSIVE RENTAL
INCREASES, THAT'S AN ECONOMIC
EXCHANGE.
WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM
SO-CALLED SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS, SAYING THAT THE
RENTER PROJECTION WOULD BE
DISASTROUS FOR SMALL LANDLORDS.
HOWEVER, PLAYING THE CORPORATE
SHELL GAME, TEN SEPARATE LLC'S
DOESN'T MAKE YOU A SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDE.
IT MAKES YOU A STANDARD
CORPORATE LANDLORD.
SO IT'S NOT
SMALL LANDLOERPDS WHO ARE
RAISING RENT.
IT'S THE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS, THE SLUMLORDS WHO
PRICE-GOUGE THE TENANTS.
IF YOU
PUT 7% RENTAL INCREASES IN
SEATTLE, WHICH IS TOTALLY
RIDICULOUS, SMALL LANDLOERPDS
WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THESE
BILLS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE
SMALL LANDLORDS WHO HAVE BEEN
COMING OUT TO DEFEND RENTERS'
RIGHTS.
>> JESSICA FOLLOWED BY COREY
BREWER.
AND THEN DESEAN BYRD GO.
AHEAD, JESS KACHLT
>> HI, MY NAME IS JESSICA.
AND I
AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'VE BEEN A RENTER IN DISTRICT
THREE FOR 12 YEARS.
AND BEFORE
THAT, A RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR.
AND I'M CALLING IN MY SUPPORT
FOR THE LEGISLATION THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANLT HAS PUT FORWARD.
TO MAKE SURE THAT LANDLORDS GIVE
AT LEAST SIX MONTHS NOTICE TO
RAISE THEIR RENT AND ALSO THE
LEGISLATION PAID RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
I HAVE BEEN PUSHED
OUT BY MY RENT, WHICH WAS MORE
THAN DOUBLED.
AND WE ONLY GOT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE BECAUSE
THERE WAS -- THEY HAD TO REDO
ALL THE PIPES IN THE BUILDING.
AND IT HELPED A GREAT AMOUNT.
SO
I THANK YOU IS IMPORTANT THAT
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO.
AND ALSO THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF
TIME TO LOOK FOR AN APARTMENT.
AND IT ALSO TAKES A LOT OF MONEY
BECAUSE OF CREDIT CHECKS AND SO
FORTH.
SO I HIGHLY SUPPORT BOTH
OF THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
AND ALSO THE RENT CONTROL BILL.
AND I'M ENCOURAGING ALL
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE
BILL AS WELL AND VOTE FOR THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE COREY BREWER,
FOLLOWED BY ESEAN BURNS AND
KAREN TAYLOR GO.
AHEAD, CORY.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
COREY BREWER
WITH WINDERMERE PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT.
PRIMARILY
REPRESENTING THE SMALL MOM AND
POP HOUSING PROVIDER COMMUNITY.
SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME
CONTEXT ABOUT THE COST OF
PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING RENTAL
HOUSING.
I HEARD ONE OF THE
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAYOR
RECENTLY EXPLAINED THAT A
MORTGAGE IS A FORM OF 30-YEAR
RENT CONTROL FOR A HOMEOWNER.
I
DID SOME RESEARCH.
I LOOKED UP A
HANDFUL OF OUR CLIENTS IN
SEATTLE AT RANDOM TO TRACK THEIR
PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.
HERE'S A
LIST OF SOME OF THE
YEAR-OVER-YEAR PERCENTAGE
INCREASES THAT I FOUND.
10.4%.
11.3%.
12.2%.
15.3%.
17.5%.
19.6%.
24.1%.
29.9%.
I HAVE
INVITED EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL
VIA E-MAIL TO PARTICIPATE IN
CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS WITH MY
OFFICE.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU
AGAIN.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING
FROM A PANEL.
HOUSING PROVIDER PROVIDERS.
>> TO PURCHASE HOUSING PROVIDERS
WHO MAY DENY THE OUTRAGEOUS
INCREASES.
THE POINT MENTIONED
BY THE EARLIER COMMENTER, RENTS
RAISED BY THE AVERAGE SEATTLE
LANDLORD 18.7% SINCE JUNE.
IF
THAT PROCESS CONTINUED OVER THE
WHOLE YEAR, THAT WOULD BE A 40%
INCREASE, OUTPACING THE 25%.
SO
THIS IS GONNA INCREASE, PEOPLE
ARE GONNA GET FORCED OUT OF
THEIR HOMES.
ENCOURAGING THE
PROCESS OF GENTRIFICATION.
WHICH
IS SOMETHING I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
HELP STOP BY SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> NEXT IS KAREN TAYLOR.
FOLLOWED BY BARBARA FREEM AND
DWIGHT SOLANO.
>> MY NAME'S KAREN TAYLOR, AND
I'M CALLING IN TO GIVING SOME
HEADS-UP ABOUT RENT INCREASES.
I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THE SIX-TERM
LEASE RECALL HAS BEEN CLOSED.
THAT'S AN ENORMOUS RELIEF IN MY
LIFE.
AS THIS LEGISLATION CAME
THROUGH, I REALIZED YOU COULD
STILL GET RID OF ME WITH
ECONOMIC EVICTION.
AND IT TAKES
ME MONTHS AND MONTHS TO FIND A
PLACE IF I CAN.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE
OH, YEAH, THAT'S A COMMON SENSE
FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE FOR
THAT PROCESS.
SO THANKS FOR
PROPOSING THIS LEGISLATION.
>> BARBARA, FOLLOWED BY DWIGHT
SOLANO, AND MATTHEW SMITH.
GO
AHEAD, BASH R.A.
>> MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LONGTIME
HOMEOWNERS.
SEATTLE RENTS ROSE
9% FROM JANUARY TO APRIL.
AND
ANNUALIZED PERCENT OF 40%.
AND I
WOULD SAY TO THE MAN THAT'S
DISINGENUOUS TO COMPARE IT TO A
RENTAL INCREASE.
I STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH RENTERS AND URGE
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO
STAND WITH WORKING CLASS
RENTERS.
REQUIRE LANDLORDS TO
GIVE SIX MONTHS NOTICE TO RAISE
RENTS AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
WHEN THEY FORCE TENANTS TO MOVE
BECAUSE OF A BIG RENT INCREASE.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW SMITH AND
KAREN DAWSON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BRICE, I WORK
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
AND I'M
CALLING IN TO URGE THE COMMITTEE
TO SUPPORT COLLIN MEMBER
SAWANT'S BILL TO REQUIRE
LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE SIX MONTHS
NOTICE FOR RENT INCREASES AND
PROVIDE RENT ASSISTANCE.
SEATTLE
LAW ONLY REQUIRES LANDLORDS TO
GIVE TENANTS TWO MONTHS NOTICE
FOR RENT INCREASES.
THE
STAGGERING PACE OF RENT INCREASE
MEANS THAT THOUSANDS WILL BE
FORCED TO MOVE.
AND TWO MONTHS
NOTICE ISN'T ENOUGH.
ESPECIALLY
IN LIGHT COST VID DEBT.
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT SEATTLE
LANDLORDS RAISE RENT AN AVERAGE
OF 18.7% BETWEEN JANUARY AND
JUNE.
WHICH WILL COST A TYPICAL
SEATTLE RENTER AN ADDITIONAL
$3,300 A YEAR.
IT'S CRITICAL
THAT WE PASS THIS LEGISLATION
NOW AND CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR
MORE RENTERS' PROTECTIONS,
INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL RENT CONTROL.
THANK
YOU.
>> MATTHEW SMITH.
FOLLOWED BY
CATHERINE DAWSON AND PAMELA
WOODROW.
GO AHEAD, MATTHEW.
>> MY NAME IS MATT SMITH.
I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 2. I'M
CALLING IN TO SUPPORT COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT'S BILL TO GIVE SIX
MONTHS NOTICE FOR RENT INCREASES
AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FOR
ECONOMIC EVICTIONS.
MY LEASE IS
ABOUT TO COME UP IN TWO
MONTHS.
AND IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR
WORKING PEOPLE TO PLAN TO MOVE.
I HAD TO MOVE AFTER MY LAST FROM
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WHERE MY
HOUSING WAS.
LUXURY HOUSING THAT
I COULDN'T AFFORD.
AND A
COMMENTER EARLIER SAID THAT
PEOPLE RENT BACK IN 2017 NEARLY
HALF OF SEATTLE RENTERS WERE
PAYING OVER A THIRD OF THEIR
INCOME IN RENT.
AND INCOME
BURDENS.
AND THAT IS A HUGE,
HUGE STRUGGLE FOR WORKING PEOPLE
WHEN THEY'RE TOLD TWO MONTHS
BEFORE THEIR LEASE IS UP THEY
HAVE TO COME UP WITH THAT EXTRA
MONEY TO PAY THAT RENT FOR NEXT
MONTH OR FACE THE HUGE COSTS OF
MOVING.
I SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION.
I URGE THE COUNCIL
TO PASS IT WITHOUT DELAY.
>> CATHERINE DAWSON FOLLOWED BY
PAMELA WOODRUFF.
GO AHEAD.
>> I'M CATHERINE, I'M A RENTER
IN DISTRICT THREE.
AND I'M
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT'S RENTER
PROTECTION.
RENTER PROTECTIONS
CAN PREVENT SOME EVICTIONS.
AND
ALSO SUPPORT THE FOORLT OF
SEATTLE HAS BEEN SKYROCKETING
BEYOND THE REACH OF MOST
WORKERS.
IT REALLY SEEMS RENT
EVICTION COMES FROM THOSE SMALL
COMPANY, NOT FROM INDIVIDUAL
FAMILY OWNERS.
WE CANNOT ALLOW
HUGE CORPORATE LANDLORDS TO
MAINTAIN A PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE
OF SEATTLE RENTERS.
THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD, PAMELA.
>> HI, I'M PAMELA WOODRUFF.
CAN
YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES.
>> AND I'M A SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDER FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
OF ONE DETACHED COTTAGE IN NORTH
SEATTLE.
I'M NOT A CORPORATE
LANDLORD.
THERE'S NO SHELL
CORPORATION HERE.
IT'S JUST ME.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO
CB119585 AND RELATED BILLS THAT
REQUIRE 180 DAYS NOTICE OF RENT
INCREASE.
MOST OF US SMALL
LANDLORDS, MYSELF INCLUDED, ARE
OPERATING ON A VERY THIN PROFIT
MARGIN IF WE MAKE ANY PROFIT AT
ALL.
MANY.
US ARE PAYING OFF THE
RENOVATION LOANS WE USED TO
CREATE THIS HOUSING.
THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE.
THESE
AND OTHER ORDINANCES.
MANY
PROVIDERS ARE TAKING THEIR
RENTERS OFF THE MARKET.
IT ISN'T
SUSTAINABLE FOR PROVIDERS.
IT'S
NOT SUSTAINABLE.
PLEASE DON'T
PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
OR IF YOU
DO, MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR
PROVIDERS WITH SIX OR FEWER
UNITS.
THANK YOU.
>> JOHNNY QUIN FOLLOWED BY
MONICA JESUITA.
GO AHEAD,
JORDAN.
>> MY NAME'S JORDAN.
I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT TWO.
I'M
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S UPCOMING
LEGISLATION.
AND URGING THE CITY
TO SPECIFICALLY FUND THE NEW
HOPE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
BLACK AND BROWN WORKING CLASS
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT OF
THE DISTRICT FOR DECADES BECAUSE
OF GENTRIFYING AREAS AND PUSHED
OUT BY LANDLORDS.
FUND THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
>> MONICA JETSIETA.
GO AHEAD
MONICA.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> AWESOME.
HI, EVERYONE.
MY
NAME IS MONICA.
I URGE THE
SUPPORT OF THESE BILLS FOR
RENTER RIGHTS.
IT'S NOT FAIR
THAT THEY JUST WANT TO RAISE
RENTS.
IF THAT'S THE WAY THEY
HAVE BEEN, THE LANDLORDS HAVE
RAISED THE RENT WHERE WE CAN'T
AFFORD IT ANYMORE, THE LANDLORD
MUST PAY THEIR TENANT THREE
MONTHS RENT ASSISTANCE COST.
INCLUDING APARTMENT SEARCH AND
FIRST AND LAST SECURITY DEPOSIT,
AND ALSO PET DEPOSIT IF NEED BE.
THE COMMENT OF THE FULL-TIME JOB
APARTMENT BEFORE, BY THE YOUNG
LADY, ALSO THE MENTAL STRESS OF
FINDING A PLACE.
NOT KNOWING
WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE IS
REALLY SCARY.
AND OUR LIVES ARE
IN YOUR HANDS AND WE NEED HELP.
I SENT YOU ALL KNOW E-MAIL IF
YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
>> SORRY, MONICA.
I SEE I CUT
YOU OFF.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR COMMENT.
AND WE WILL
DEFINITELY LOOK FOR YOUR
E-MAILS.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
SEND YOUR FULL COMMENT TO ME,
AND I WILL LOOK AT IT.
AND I
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE POINT
YOU MADE ABOUT WHAT IS BEING
FACED BY LOW-INCOME RENTERS.
GO
AHEAD, KAREN.
>> I'D LIKE TO URGE THE COUNCIL
TO PASS SIX MONTHS NOTICE FOR
RENT INCREASES, AND ALSO
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
I SUPPORT
EVERY POLICY POSTED ON COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT'S RENTERS' BILL OF
RIGHT, WHICH INCLUDES POLICY
THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND WORKERS HAVE
BEEN IN NEED OF.
AND ARE
FIGHTING FOR FOR YEARS.
AND IT'S
BECOMING MORE OF AN EMERGENCY
AND MORURE GENT.
THE POSTCOVID
RENT HIKES ARE ONLY GETTING
STARTED.
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IS GOING TO BECOME AN EVEN
GREATER CRISIS.
IF NOTHING IS
DONE.
OR IF WE GO FOR, LIKE,
LOWER INCREMENTAL SOLUTIONS.
THE
HUMAN NEED FOR HOUSING CAN'T
JUST BE USED AS THE LATEST CASH
COW FOR INVESTORS.
AND THAT'S
WHAT I SUPPORT NOW.
I ALSO
SUPPORT RETURNING LAND TO
DISPLACED COMMUNITIES, WITH THE
NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH PROPOSAL TO BUILD 78 UNIT
WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR BLACK
SPECIAL DISTRICT COMMUNITIES.
AND AT A PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
PRICE.
THAT LAND NEVER SHOULD
HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THE
COMMUNITY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND IT'S NOW WORTH MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THANK YOU.
>> SONIA, FOLLOWED BY ELAINE
MCARTHUR.
AND MARLENE MARSH.
>> I'M A WORKING MOM AND A
LANDLORD.
AND I'M URGING ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THESE
TWO RENTERS' RIGHTS BILLS COMING
FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
WEAN
THE CRISIS FOR RENTERS IS
DEEPENING.
THE PANDEMIC'S NOT
OVER.
WE'RE SEEING CORPORATE
LANDLOERPDS ALREADY STARTED
PUSHING UP LAND AT 2.5 TIMES THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE WHICH IS REALLY
SHOCKING.
AND IT IS LOOKING
UNLIKELY THAT MY CHILDREN WILL
EVER MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH
THE SKYROCKETING RENT.
AND I
THINK THAT SHOULD BE DEEPLY
TROUBLING TO MANY PEOPLE.
AND
NOBODY ELSE HAS ANSWERS TO THIS
BESIDES COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
THIS IS REALLY ILLUSTRATING WHY
WE NEED RENT CONTROL.
AS A
LANDLORD, THAT DOESN'T SCARE ME
BECAUSE IT'S THE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND SLUMLORDS WHO KEEP
JACKING UP RENT BY MORE THAN
10%.
SO PLEASE PASS RENT
CONTROL.
SO WE CAN PREEMPTIVELY
AVOID THOSE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
>> EMILY MACARTHUR.
I'M A RENTER
IN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT.
LAST
WEEKEND AT OUR COMMUNITY PICNIC,
I SPOKE TO AN ELDERLY RENTER WHO
LIVES IN A BUILDING PRIMARILY ON
FIXED INCOME.
SHE BROKE INTO
TEARS AS SHE EXPLAINED THE
LANDLORD WAS RAISING THE RENT BY
OVER $150, SHE DOESN'T KNOW
WHERE SHE AND HER NEIGHBORS ARE
GOING TO FIND THAT MONEY IN THE
NEXT TWO MONTHS.
MOVING
BELONGINGS OVER TWO YEARS ISN'T
VIABLE FOR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS.
THEY'RE JUST ONE OF MANY
EXAMPLES OF WHY WE NEED THIS
SIX-MONTH NOTICE OF RENT HIKES.
MONTH-OVER-MONTH, RENT CONTROL
TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE
IN OUR STATE.
WE KNOW OUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS MUCH MORE.
WE
NEED TO INCREASE THE AMAZON TAX
TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
SEATTLE.
I URGE ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO VOTE YES.
>> MOLLY MARSH FOLLOWED BY JIM
HENDERSON.
GO AHEAD, MARLENE.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MARLENE
MARSH.
I AM A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHER AND HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR OVER 20
YEARS.
MY PARTNER AND I HAVE A
MODEST HOME WITH AN ADU, WHICH
WE HAVE RENTED FOR BELOW-MARKET
VALUE FOR MANY YEARS.
WE'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURRENT
PROPOSALS.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE
IN RENT CONTROL AND HAVING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOWEVER, WE
WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER TO PLEASE IDENTIFY AND
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CORPORATE
AND MULTIUNIT LANDOWNERS VERSUS
THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS
WHEN YOU APPLY THESE NEW RULES.
YOU'RE COMPARING A DAVID AND A
GOLIATH.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THE
COUNCIL IS AIMING TO DO.
THIS IS
MY OPINION.
BUT I DEFINITELY
BELIEVE THIS WOULD HURT THE
RENTAL MARKET AS THE DAVIDS
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
RENTING UNITS WITH SUCH
DRACONIAN MEASURES.
WE WOULD
LIKE THE PROPOSALS TO BE FAIR
AND JUST FOR SINGLE FAMILIES,
HOMEOWNERS SUCH AS OURSELVES.
WHO SUPPORT OUR TENANT, AND
SHARE THE PROPERTY WITH THEM.
PLEASE CONSIDER SEPARATING OUT
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS FROM
THESE DRACONIAN MEASURES.
THANK
YOU.
>> JIM HENDERSON FOLLOWED BY
GABRIEL MAHON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAME CHAIR
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME
IS JIM HENDERSON, REPRESENTING
MORE THAN 5,000 SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS OF THE RENTAL HOUSING
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON.
MY
MEMBERS OPPOSE THE 180-DAY
NOTICE TO INCREASE RENT.
THIS
BILL WILL DIRECTLY AND
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT RAILRIDERS
THAT RELY ON THE HOUSING THAT
OUR MEMBERS PROVIDE IN YOUR
COMMUNITY.
A 180-DAY NOTICE FOR
RENTAL INCREASE DOESN'T ALLOW
HOUSING PROVIDERS TO MATCH THE
INCREASED COSTS OF PROVIDING
HOUSING.
>>> MY NAME IS GABRIEL, I'M A
TEMP WORKER AND RESIDENT AND
RENTER IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
AND I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT'S
PROPOSALS FOR 180 DAYS NOTICE
FOR RENT CHANGE AS WELL AS
RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE CASE OF
EVICTION.
OUR WHOLE APARTMENT
BUILDING WAS RECENTLY BOUGHT BY
ANOTHER CORPORATE MANAGER.
AND
ALL OF THE RESIDENT IN THE
40-PLUS UNITS ARE TOTALLY
ANXIOUS ABOUT HOW MUCH THEIR
RENT IS GONNA GO UP OR NOT GO
UP.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE NEW
MANAGEMENT COMPANY HAS
ASPIRATIONS WITH HOW MUCH THEY
CAN GET.
FOR MANY OF US, WE'RE
JUST NOT CLEAR IF WE CAN
CONTINUE TO STAY IN OUR UNITS OR
NOT.
AND THIS 180 DAYS NOTICE IS
JUST A NO-BRAINER.
I HAVEN'T MET
A SINGLE RENTER OR PERSON IN THE
COMMUNITY WHO DOESN'T SHARE THAT
OPINION AS WELL.
SO PLEASE HELP
OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO OUR
APARTMENT COMPLEX AND PASS THE
180 DAYS NOTICE IN RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
SPOKE IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I
ALSO WANTED TO SHARE WITH
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE
GOT A MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES'S OFFICE SEVERAL
MINUTES AGO SAYING THEY JUST
WRAPPED UP IN THE BOARD OF
HEALTH MEETING.
HE WILL GET TO
THIS COMMITTEE AS SOON AS HE
CAN.
WE APPRECIATE THAT
NOTIFICATION.
AND OUR FIRST
AGENDA ITEM IS A COMMUNITY PANEL
OF RENTERS AND RENTERS' RIGHTS
ADVOCATES WHO WILL GIVE THEIR
VIEWPOINT AND ALSO SHARE DATA ON
WHY THEY BELIEVE SOME OF THESE
BILLS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I
WILL READ OUT THE NAMES.
AND I
KNOW MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW
YOUR RELATIONAL AFFILIATION FOR
THE RECORD AND GO WITH YOUR
POINT.
I WAS GOING TO START WITH
TRAN LARSON BECAUSE I KNOW THEY
HAVE A DINING COMMITMENT THEY
HAVE TO GET TO.
SO PLEASE
WELCOME TRAN.
>> HI.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANKS
FOR HAVING ME.
I'M JUST HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED BILL
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT'S
OFFICE IS INTRODUCING.
AT HJP,
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT TENANT
PROTECTIONS.
MOVING IS REALLY
UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST FOLKS.
AND
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ASKING THEM
TO MOVE IN SUCH A SHORT NOTICE.
AND IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE
PLACE, FAMILIES ARE RIVING
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON HAVING
TO SAVE UP.
AND THE MAJORITY OF
AMERICANS DON'T EVEN HAVE AN
EXTRA FEW HUNDRED IN THE BANK
LYING AROUND.
I THINK IT'S JUST
REALLY AN IMPOSSIBLE ASK FOR
FOLK
FOLKS.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW
WITHOUT LAWS TO BACK THEM UP.
YOU CAN THROW ALL THE ATTORNEYS
IN THE WORLD AT THE PROBLEM.
BUT
T THE END OF THE DAY, THEY CAN
ONLY DO WHAT'S ALLOWED UNDER
STATE LAW.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
VERY WELL NOTED.
AND MY OFFICE INTENDS TO AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO.
WE HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME SO WE CAN
WORK ON THAT.
JUST TO SHARE WITH
THE PUBLIC, THE HOUSING HAS
REPORTED THIS.
THAT EVICTIONS
ARE BECOMING HOUSING EVICTIONS
THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND
WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR ARE SO DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECTED BY EVICTION.
PEOPLE NOW
ARE ALREADY SADDLED
COVID-RELATED DEBTS.
AND ALL OF
THIS IS JUST COMING DOWN THE
PIPELINE FOR THEM.
I WANTED TO
ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS, WOULD YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JAM AND
COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
I'M SCANNING THE
ROOM TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
REQUESTS.
I DON'T SEE ANY AT THE
MOMENT, TRAM.
PLEASE STAY IF
YOU'RE ABLE TO.
BUT IF YOU NEED
TO LEAVE, WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND WE
WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOUR
OFFICE, THE HOUSING DISTRICT
PROJECT, AS ALWAYS.
LET'S
WELCOME VIOLET WHO -- OH, SORRY.
I HAVE A NOTE HERE THAT SHE CAN
ONLY COMMENT.
WE'LL WAIT FOR
THAT.
WE DO HAVE GINA OWENS WHO
IS A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
RENTERS' COMMISSION AND HAS BEEN
A LONGTIME ACTIVIST WITH THE
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK.
CAN YOU PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF SDPROERD THEN
GO AHEAD?
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR
ASK MEETING TO BE HERE TODAY.
I
ALSO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE
TODAY BECAUSE THESE ISSUES ARE
IMPORTANT.
I DO WANT TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TWO
BILLS.
BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANTED
TO JUST GIVE A SHORT BRIEF ABOUT
WHY THESE BILLS ARE PERSONALLY
IMPORTANT FOR ME.
IN THE
2000, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
STORY.
I AM NO LONGER STRONG
ENOUGH, STABLE ENOUGH TO WORK.
AND THAT TOOK AWAY MY INCOME.
IN
20001, I WAS EVIBLTHED.
I WAS
EVICTED.
I WENT THROUGH THE
WHOLE HOMELESS IN SEATTLE THING
THERE, HOMELESS SHELTERS AND
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
DEALING
WITH THE CASE MANAGERS AND THE
SOCIAL WORKERS.
IT WAS REALLY
DEMORALIZING FOR ME AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
THAT HAS BEEN THE REASON
I DO THE ADVOCACY WORK I DO IN
THE COMMUNITY.
THAT BEING SAID,
THESE TWO ISSUES ARE PERSONAL
FOR ME.
ONE BECAUSE I LOST MY
INCOME, SO I WANT ABLE TO PAY MY
RENT WHICH LED TO THE EVICTION.
SO THE SIX-MONTH NOTICE FOR RENT
IMPORTANT FOR ME., IS VERY
BECAUSE
SEATTLE RENTERS RIGHT NOW ARE IN
AN EXTREME CRISIS.
PARTLY DUE TO
SKYROCKETING RENTS.
AND PARTLY
DUE TO THE ENORMOUS CALL FOR
LANDLORDS FOR EVICTIONS, WHICH
ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.
BUT WE'RE FOCUSING ON SEATTLE
FOR THIS MEETING TODAY.
I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT B THAT.
SEATTLE
PEOPLE NEED SIX MONTHS.
I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT SO THAT THEY HAVE
THE TIME, ESPECIALLY ARCH THE
PANDEMIC.
WE'RE JUST NOW COMING
OUT OF IT.
THEY NEED THE TIME TO
LOOK FOR NEW HOUSING.
60 DAYS
WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH BEFORE
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HOISING
EMERGENCY.
SINCE THAT
DECLARATION, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS INCREASED HOUSING COST, FOOD
COSTS AND MORE.
BUT OUR WAGES
FOR WORKERS HAVE BEEN
STAGNATING.
I'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR
FAMILIES DURING MY ADVOCACY.
THEY ARE SUPPRESSED TO THE POINT
STRESSED TO THE POINT OF MENTAL
DEPRESSION BECAUSE OF WHAT I
CALL THE THREE HARD CORE ISSUE
WE'RES NOW LIVING.
PANDEMIC, THE
ECONOMIC WARFARE.
AND I SAY
WARFARE BECAUSE, FRANKLY, THE
WORKING CLASS VERSUS THE WEALTHY
CLASS.
AND THE THIRD BUT MOST
IMPORTANT, JOB LOSS.
SO MANY
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL IN
THIS SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE
LOST THEIR JOB.
EITHER BECAUSE
BUSINESSES HAVE GONE DOWN OR
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EVER GOING
TO REOPEN, BUT THERE'S STILL
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK.
180 DAYS NOTICE BEFORE RENT
INCREASES REMAIN MORE TIME FOR
RENTERS TO LOOK FOR A NEW PLACE
AND BUILDING ENOUGH MONEY FOR
THAT KIND OF MOVE.
WITHOUT THE
STRESSORS OF MENTAL ISSUES AND
LIVING THROUGH ALL OF THESE
THINGS.
>> WILL HELP TO SLOW THIS
PROCESS DOWN.
AND ENSURE FAIR
PRACTICES FOR ALL PEOPLE
CONCERNED.
TENANTS AS WELL
AS LANDLORDS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES
MY NOTES.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING TO ME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GINA.
I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
AND I WOULD SAY TO ALL OF OUR
SPEAKERS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY
IN CASE THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR YOU.
I ALSO WANTED
TO NOTE.
I'M SORRY IF YOU
MENTIONED IT AND I MISSED IT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT
GENA AND OTHERS FROM THE
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK PLAYED JUST A REALLY
INCREDIBLY CRUCIAL ROLE IN 2015
WHEN WE WON THE RENTERS'
LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE LANDLORDS
TO LIMIT MOVING FEES.
VERY
IMPORTANT ROLE.
GINA PERSONALLY,
YOU WERE THERE.
I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT.
OUR NEXT
SPEAKER THAT I WANTED TO INVITE
IS SHARON CROWLEY WHO IS A
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE RENTER
COMMISSION ALSO.
AND A MEMBER OF
THE UAW 4121.
>> HI THERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME HERE.
AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A
STALWART CHAMPION FOR WORKING
PEOPLE AND RENTERS IN SEATTLE.
IT'S INSPIRING AND IT'S A
PLEASURE.
I'M AN ORGANIZER AND
MEMBER OF UAWA LOCAL 4121.
I'M
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
RENTERS' COMMISSION AND MEMBER
OF DISTRICT 6. IN THE PAST I
RENTED IN DISTRICT THREE AND
DISTRICT FIVE.
AND ALSO DISTRICT
FOUR, ACTUALLY.
SO MY UNION
REPRESENTS OVER 6,000 ACADEMIC
WORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
TUTORS, GRADERS,
INSTRUCTORS AND RESEARCHERS WHO
ARE ALSO UNDERGRADUATE AND
GRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE SAME
TIME.
AND ALSO POSTDOCS.
OUR
MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY
THE HOUSING CRISIS WHICH STARTED
LONG BEFORE COVID-19.
OVER HALF
OF OUR MEMBERS ARE RENT
BURDENED.
AND OVER A THIRD PAY
MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR INCOME
IN RENT.
SO WE KNOW THIS TREND
ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO OUR
MEMBERS TOO, OF COURSE.
AND IT'S
AFFECTING ALL RENTERS AND
WORKERS IN SEATTLE.
IT HAS BEEN
ALL ALONG.
AND IT'S HAVING
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS ON
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN
COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY.
AND
EVERYWHERE.
SO LONG BEFORE
COVID, WE'D SEEN THESE PROBLEMS
UPLIFTING FAMILIES IN SEATTLE,
IT'S LED TO ECONOMIC
DISPLACEMENT.
THE DESTRUCTION OF
LONGSTANDING COMMUNITIES LIKE
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS
THE EXAMPLE THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE
ARE CITING.
AND IT'S ALSO
STARTING TO SPREAD FURTHER OUT
FROM THE CORE OF SEATTLE.
THEY LEVEL THE EXISTING
STRUCTURES AND REPLACE THEM WITH
SLEEK, EXPENSIVE HOUSING THAT
RAILRIDERS OF THAT COMMUNITY
CANNOT AFFORD.
WE ALL KNOW THIS
STORY.
AND EVERYBODY JUST SORT
OF THROWS THEIR HANDS UP AND
DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT
IT.
BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
COVID LED US TO SORT
OF PUSH A PAUSE BUTTON ON RENT
INCREASES AND EVICTIONS, WHICH
WAS A BIG HELP TO A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
BUT WE KNEW IT WAS
TEMPORARY.
NOW AS THE
RESTRICTIONS ARE BEGINNING TO
EASE, WE SEE THAT RENT IN
SEATTLE HAS GONE UP BY ALMOST
19% JUST SINCE JANUARY.
THIS IS
WAY FASTER THAN THE PACE OF
INFLATION.
AND WAY FASTER THAN
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT WORKERS AND RENTERS
HAVE BARELY HAD A CHANCE TO
REGAIN WORKING WAGES SO THEY CAN
REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
MEANWHILE
WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH ALL OF THE
HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS
OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND HOW IT'S
IMPACTED OUR JOBS AND OUR LIVES
AND OUR FAMILIES.
TAKEN
TOGETHER, THESE TWO TRENDS ARE
SQUEEZING RENTERS AND WORKERS
FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS.
RENTS ARE
RISING.
THIS IS TRUE FOR ALL
RENTERS AND WORKING PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE.
THE AVERAGE IN SEATTLE
IS ALMOST $2,400 FOR A
ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT.
I
PERSONALLY COULD NOT AFFORD
THAT.
AND IT'S ALMOST $3,700 FOR
A TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT.
THE
AVERAGE SEATTLE RENTER WOULD
HAVE TO EARN OVER $84,000 PER
YEAR.
JUST IN ORDER TO BE RIGHT
AT THE EDGE OF BEING
RENT-BURDENED, WHICH IS PAYING
MORE THAN A THIRD OF THEIR WAGES
IN RENT.
MOST OF OUR MEMBERS
MAKE WELL BELOW $84,000 PER
YEAR.
IN MIGHT BE SURPRISING
BECAUSE THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE
POSTDOCS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
THEY'RE DOING WORLD
CLASS RESEARCH AND BEING PAID AS
LITTLE AS THE UNIVERSITY CAN GET
AWAY WITH PAYING THEM.
SEATTLE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS ALSO
PRECOVID, OF COURSE.
THE
PANDEMIC HAS MADE THINGS WORSE.
THERE'S ALSO THAT THREAT OF
EVICTIONS FROM COVID DEBT.
AND
FOR MOST PEOPLE, EVEN BEFORE
COVID, 60 DAYS IS NOT ENOUGH
TIME TO PULL TOGETHER THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY AND THE RESOURCES THAT
IT TAKES TO MOVE.
THERE'S A COST
JUST ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING YOUR
STUFF FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
AND
ALSO THE MOVING COST THAT YOU
FACE.
ALL OF US, WE NEED BOTH OF
THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
IT'S A MORAL IMPERATIVE TO
ENSURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN.
THAT ALLEVIATE THE
COVID-RELATED BURDENS THAT HAVE
FALLEN HARDEST ON US.
INCREASING
THE AMOUNT OF NOTICE THAT A
LANDLORD WOULD HAVE TO GIVE FROM
60 TO 180 DAYS WOULD BE A HUGE
HELP FOR ALL RENTERS.
I KNOW FOR
A FACT IT WOULD HELP OUR
MEMBERS.
I'VE BEEN THERE CHASED
FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SEATTLE BY
INCREASES.
AND THIS WAS BEFORE
COVID.
IT'S WORSE NOW.
IT WOULD
BE A HUGE HELP FOR PEOPLE FACING
THAT SITUATION.
IT'S A CRUCIAL
PIECE OF ADDRESSING OUR HOUSING
CRISIS IN SEATTLE.
THIS
ASSISTANCE COULD PREVENT
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM
BECOMING HOMELESS.
AND NOBODY
SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE TO THAT
KNIFE EDGE, IN MY OPINION.
SO
AGAIN I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT FOR PROPOSING
THESE TWO CRITICAL PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
I THINK WE HAVE TO
PASS THEM.
AND AS I SAID
EARLIER, I URGE ALL OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO ALSO
VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHARON.
IF
YOU COMPARE THE SALARIES OF THE
WORKERS TO THE SALARIES OF THE
EXECUTIVE, IT TELLS QUITE EYE
FOR.
AND I KNOW YOUR UNION HAS
PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THAT.
SOME OF
YOUR COMMENTS REMINDED ME OF THE
RENT CONTROL CONCERT THAT WE HAD
RECENTLY IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
AND A MEMBER OF YOUR
UNION, I WAS VERY STRUCK BY WHAT
HE SAID.
HE SAID WHEN HE WAS
PREPARING HIS REMARKS FOR THE
CONFERENCE.
IT SUDDENLY DAWNED
ON HIM THAT HE HAS HAD TO MOVE
EVERY YEAR.
HE HAS NOT HAD ONE
YEAR WHERE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO
MOVE.
SO I THINK THESE BILLS ARE
NEEDED FOR PEOPLE AS A WHOLE BUT
ALSO UDUB RENTERS.
JUST ONE MORE
QUESTION.
AS UAW MEMBERS, WHAT
ARE YOU NOTICING IN TERMS OF THE
COVID -- OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT OUT
OF THE PANDEMIC.
BUT THE
PROBLEMS THAT MUCH OF OUR
POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED
ARE YOU OBSERVING THAT STUDENTS
REGISTERING WHO ARE MAYBE IN
THEIR HOME CITY ARE MOVING BACK?
ARE YOU SHOWING SORT OF
PHENOMENON?
AND IS THAT GOING TO
OBVIOUSLY MAKE THE QUESTION OF
RENT EVEN MORE PROMINENT?
AND
THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHERE DO
YOU BELIEVE MOST OF THE UAW
MEMBERS LIVE?
ARE THEY FORCED TO
FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY FROM
THE U DISTRICT JUST BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE THEY CAN
AFFORD?
>> I MAY NOT FULLY REMEMBER THE
FIRST QUESTION.
I'M SORRY.
I'M A
LITTLE DISTRACTED BY ALL OF THIS
STUFF.
SO YOU'RE ASKING -- THE
FIRST QUESTION, COULD YOU REPEAT
THE FIRST QUESTION?
>> YEAH, JUST TO ASK, YOUR UNION
HAS NOTICED ANY PATTERN WHERE
MAYBE SOME OF THE STUDENT
WORKERS WERE STILL LIVING AT
HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND
NOW ARE MOVING BACK?
IS THAT
GOING TO BE MORE OF A LIFE
QUESTION FOR THEM?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
AND EVEN
AMONG THOSE WHO STAYED IN
SEATTLE, THEY MAY HAVE HAD
PARTNERS THAT HELPED THEM TO
STAY HERE.
BUT A LOT OF FOLKS'
PARTNERS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE
LOSS OF WAGES BECAUSE OF COVID.
SO EVEN THOSE WHO STAYED HERE
WERE STRUGGLING.
BUT YEAH, A LOT
OF FOLKS DID MOVE BACK HOME.
REMEMBER THAT ABOUT 40% OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE INTERNATIONAL
SCHOLARS.
SO HOME FOR THEM MEANT
OVERSEAS.
AND MANY OF THEM HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO RETURN.
BUT
UDUB IS TRYING TO IMPOSE
RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE WORKING
REMOTELY, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE
IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR EXISTING
AND NEW GRAD STUDENTS AND
POSTDOCS WHO ARE INTERNATIONAL
FOLKS TO NAVIGATE THIS.
BECAUSE
MANY OF THEM ARE IN PLACES WHERE
THERE ARE STILL TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS.
SO UDUB IS
SQUEEZING THEM STILL.
AND IN
ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION OF WHERE
MOST OF OUR RENTERS LIVE, I
THINK THE MAJORITY STILL LIVE IN
THE U DISTRICT BUT IN MUCH
TIGHTER QUARTERS THAN
PREVIOUSLY.
THEY'RE LIVING IN
SITUATIONS WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF
ROOMMATES CRAMMED INTO A SMALLER
PLACE THAN IS IDEAL.
BUT YES, A
LOT OF FOLKS HAVE HAD TO MOVE
FURTHER OUT.
I MYSELF DID WHEN I
WAS STILL A GRADUATE STUDE
ENDED UP LIVING IN LAKE CITY.
AND WAS RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE
BORDER WITH SHORELINE AND WAS
LOOKING AT MOVING EVEN FURTHER
AWAY.
BUT I THINK A LOT OF OUR
MEMBERS DO STILL LIVE CLOSER IN
BUT IN VERY CRAMPED, MUCH MORE
CRAMPED CIRCUMSTANCES THAN IS
IDEAL FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S A
GRADUATE STUDENT.
BUT REALLY I
THINK IT'S NOT IDEAL FOR
ANYBODY.
SO I THINK BOTH OF
THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
PEOPLE MOVING FURTHER OUT AND
JUST CRAMMING MORE PEOPLE INTO A
SMALLER SPACE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT
OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT IT'S
LIKE FOR A LOT OF THE
REGISTRANTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT, SHARON.
WE HAVE A SEATTLE
RENTER AND A STARBUCKS BARISTA.
WELCOME.
>> URGING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS,
RENTERS, STAND WITH THE WORKING
CLASS, LGBTQ AND TRANS
COMMUNITY.
>> SORRY, YOU KEEP FREEZING OFF
AND ON.
SO WE'RE MISSING A LOT
OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> NO PROBLEM.
JUST KEEP GOING.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
SEATTLE RENT AS OTHER
PEOPLE HAVE SAID HAVE ROSE 18.7%
JUST FROM JANUARY TO JUNE.
THOSE
RENT HIKES WILL COST THE TYPICAL
SEATTLE RENTER AN EXTRA $3,300 A
YEAR.
I CERTAINLY CAN'T AFFORD
THAT.
IF THE LANDLORDS RAISE
RENT HERE 10% OR MORE, I
DEFINITELY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
AND I WOULD HAVE TO MOVE.
I
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD
MOVING COSTS IF THIS WERE TO
HAPPEN.
AND IF I HAD SIX MONTHS
TO PLAN, THAT WOULD BE A HUGE
HELP.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON
THE RELOCATION BILL BEING PUT
FURTHER TODAY.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO
MOVE, AND IF MY RENTS WERE TO
INCREASE BY 10% OR MORE, I WOULD
HAVE TO.
BUT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE
--
>> DECREASING HOMELESSNESS.
I'M
WORRIED ABOUT LIVING ON THE
STREET, AND AS A TRANS PERSON,
THAT BEING BE VERY DANGEROUS.
TRANS PEOPLE ARE THREE TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY
AND FACE THREE TIMES MORE
CHALLENGE WHEN THEY'RE HOMELESS.
EVERYONE AGREES THAT RENT IS
VERY HIGH AND IT'S VERY HARD TO
LIVE HERE WITH CORPORATE
LANDLORDS INCREASING THE RENT SO
OFTEN.
>> ALSO SAYING THAT I FULLY
SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, AND THE
RENTERS' RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
>> AND BEYOND JUNE 30th.
AND
CLOSING LOOPHOLES TO SEATTLE LAW
THAT ALLOW LANDLOERPD
RENTERS AT THE END OF SIX WEEKS.
I URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ADD
THE SIX-MONTH PROTECTION FOR ANY
RENT INCREASE, AND RELOCATION
FOR RENTERS FACING A SIGNIFICANT
RENT INCREASE.
WE ALSO NEED TO
PASS RENT CONTROL TO PREVENT
RENTS FROM RISING MORE THAN THE
COST OF LIVING.
WITHOUT THIS,
RENTERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE
DRIVEN UP BY RENT INCREASES THAT
FAR OUTPACE THE RENT INCREASES
IN WAGES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS A
COMMUNITY MEMBER, BARISTA AND
MEMBER.
THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS WE SAID
SPEAKING AS A MEMBER OF THE LGBT
COMMUNITY, AND ALSO AS A
BARISTA, WE UNFORTUNATELY MISSED
A LOT OF YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE
OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
I
WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD
E-MAIL YOUR FULL COMMENTS TO MY
OFFICE AND WE WILL ADD IT AS THE
WRITTEN RECORD OF THIS COMMITTEE
MEETING.
AND ALSO I WANTED TO
NOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
JOINED US SEVERAL MINUTES AGO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
WE
HAVE A FEW MORE COMMUNITY
SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE JACOB SCHEER
WHO IS AN ORGANIZER.
AND A
MEMBER OF THE BOOK WORKERS
UNION.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, JACOB.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD.
WELCOME.
YOU'RE ON
MUTE, JACOB.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
FOR HAVING ME.
AND FOR PUTTING
FORWARD THESE TWO REALLY CRUCIAL
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
I JUST
WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
HOW THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION
WOULD IMPACT THE MEMBERS WHO
SELL OUR NEWSPAER.
FOR THE
LOW-INCOME AND HOUSING VENDORS
WHO MAKE A LIVING SELLING OUR
NEWSPAPER.
RENT INCREASES
ECONOMIC EVICTION AND
DISPLACEMENT ARE EACH DRIVER
WHICH IS CAN LEAD BACK TO LIVING
UNSHELTERED ON OUR STREETS.
AND
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT FOR ELIMINATING WITH THIS
LEGISLATION ALL THAT GOES INTO
BEING FORCED TO FIND A NEW PLACE
TO LIVE.
ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY
THAT A COMPANY IS BEING
DISPLACED.
BEING FORCED TO MOVE
IS EXPENSIVE, TIME-CONSUMING AND
REALLY STRESSFUL.
THE EXPECTING
OF SOMEONE BEING FORCED FROM
THEIR HOME CAN BE EXPECTED TO
FIND A MORE AFFORDABLE SPACE IN
SIX DAYS IN SEATTLE IS
COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC.
SPECIFICALLY LOW-INCOME AND
HOUSING INSECURE FOLKS LIKE OUR
VENDORS DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY
TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK TO
PURSUE HOUSING NEEDS, FOLLOWING
UP WITH LANDLORDS, PLUS WORK
HISTORY, CREDIT, AND CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT
STIGMATIZE THE POOR.
AND ONCE
HOUSING HAS BEEN SECURED, FIRST
DEPOSITS, FEES ARE A MAJOR
SETBACK.
MOVING LOCALLY COULD BE
SOMEWHERE AROUND $2,300, WHICH
IS SEVERAL MONTHS RENT FOR A
LOW-INCOME PERSON.
IN SE
THAT IS LIKELY MUCH HIGHER.
AND
NAVIGATING THE SEATTLE HOUSING
MARKET AS A POOR PERSON HAS MANY
CHALLENGES.
AND SPENDING THE
TIME REQUIRED TO GIVE RENT
INCREASE NOTICE TO 180 DAYS AND
REQUIRING LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE ARE REALLY
CRUCIAL ANTIDISPLACEMENT
MEASURES.
AND THESE MEASURES
WILL HELP INCENTIVIZE OWNERS TO
STABILIZE RENT AND KEEP RENTERS
IN THEIR HOME HOMES.
SO FAR WE HAVE A
STATEMENT.
HAPPY TO FIELD
QUESTIONS.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH JACOB.
AND
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT REAL
CHANGE.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY MAKING
THE CRUCIAL LINK WHICH WE KNOW
IS PRESENTED TREMENDOUSLY THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STRUGGLES
OF RENTERS AND THEN FINALLY WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME
HOMELESS.
AND THE AVAILABILITY
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO
AFFORDABLE RENT IS A CRUCIAL
COMPONE PREVENTING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE FIRST P
WE ALSO HAVE VIOLET WHICH IS THE
SECURE DIRECTOR.
THE TENANTS'
UNION OF WASHINGTON STATE.
BUT I
DON'T SEE HER HERE AS OF YET.
CAN YOU CONFIRM -- CAN YOU
CONFIRM THAT?
>> YES, COUNCIL MEMBER.
APPARENTLY VIOLET IS NOT
PRESENT.
>> OKAY.
WE WILL TRY NEXT TIME
FOR HER.
AND GINA AND SHARON,
THE RENTER'S COMMISSION HAS
FORMAL SUPPORTED THE SIX-MONTH
RELOCATION.
ALSO ALL THE OTHER
CURRENT AND PAST MEMBERS OF THE
SENIOR SEATTLE RENTERS
COMMISSION WHO HAVE PLAYED A
TREMENDOUS ROLE IN REALLY
ADVOCATING FOR RENTERS' RIGHTS.
DO COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OF OUR PANELISTS OR
ANY COMMENTS TO MAKE?
THANK YOU,
COUNSEL MEMBER JUAREZ, EVERYONE.
AND I DON'T SEE COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSON.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU
HAVE COMMENTS OR NOT.
PANELISTS,
YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO REMAIN.
BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVE
TO LEAVE, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH
YOU.
WE ARE HOPING WE CAN BRING
THESE TWO BILLS UP FOR A VOTE AT
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING.
DMEEP TOUCH WITH ALL
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL.
WE HAVE HAD A REALLY GOOD
GLIMPSE INTO THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, THE CONDITIONS THEY'RE
FACING AND WHY WE'RE SUPPORTING
THESE TWO BILLS.
WE ALSO HAVE IN
OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM,
SPECIFICALLY ON THE ASSISTANCE
ORDINANCE.
AND WE SPL STAFF
AVAILABLE HERE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTION
QUESTIONS.
SHE PRESENTED A
COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION.
THIS
HAS BEEN ATTACHED TO TODAY'S
AGENDA AS WELL.
IF YOU WANTED TO
PERUSE THROUGH IT.
AND I ALSO
HAVE SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE WHO
WILL BRIEFLY INTRODUCE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE BILL JUST TO
WALK EVERYONE THROUGH WHAT THAT
BILL WILL DO.
THIS BILL HAS BEEN
TRANSMITTED TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR
INTRODUCION.
WE WILL LET
COMMITTEE MEMBERS KNOW WHEN IT
IS READY FOR A VOTE.
DID YOU
WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
GO AHEAD?
>> YES.
IF I CAN BRIEFLY
INTERRUPT, VIOLET HAS JUST
JOINED US.
>> OH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
VIOLET.
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
PRESENTATION.
WE HAD OTHER
COMMUNITY SPEAKERS ALREADY SPEAK
TO THE TWO BILLS.
SIX MONTHS
NOTICE AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE.
BUT WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE
YOU HERE.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD.
YOU'RE ON MUTE,
VIOLET.
>> HI, MY NAME IS VIOLET.
AND
I'M THE SECURE DIRECTOR OF THE
TENANTS UNION.
WE ADVOCATE FOR
TENANTS IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
WE STARTED IN
SEATTLE.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO
TALK ABOUT MORE RENTER/T
PROTECTIONS.
AND I'M REALLY SO
GLAD THAT THIS LEGISLATION
KSHAMA SAWANT HAS PUT FORWARD
WILL HELP MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO GET
EVICTION RATESES IN OUR STATE.
WITH THIS LEGISLATION, IT WILL
HELP IMMENSELY.
SO I'M GLAD TO
JOIN THE MEETING TODAY.
I WOULD
LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
EVERYTHING, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VIOLET.
AND THANK
YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO
IN TERMS OF ADVOCACY AND FOR.
AND ALSO THE WORK YOU DO HE
TENANTS.
WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE LAW.
WHICH IS ANOTHER
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT COMPONENT.
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> IF YOU CAN SHARE THIS SCREEN
OF THE PRESENTATION.
AND I HAVE
LIMITED BANDWIDTH ON MY INTERNET
CONNECTION RIGHT NOW SO
APOLOGIES IF I CAUSE ANY
PROBLEMS THERE.
SO THIS IS JUST
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE MAIN
POLICY.
OBJECTIVES AND ASPECTS
OF THE ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE BILL.
REGARDING ECONOMIC PROTECTIONS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE
LAW RIGHT NOW IN SEATTLE, THERE
IS RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IN
SITUATIONS.
THERE'S THE TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE
THAT'S CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS.
UNDER THE TENANT RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE, PEOPLE
HAVE -- RENTERS HAVE THE RIGHT
TO GET RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IF
THEIR LANDLORD EVICTS THEM IN
ORDER TO DEMOLISH THE UNIT OR
REMODEL THE UNIT.
IN EVERY OTHER
CASE WHERE A RENTER IS FORCED TO
MOVE, THERE'S NO RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
AND OF COURSE FROM
THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE RENTER,
THEIR COST IS THE THING
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEIR
LANDLORD INTENDS TO DEMOLISH AND
THEY HAVE TO LEAVE.
IF THE
LANDLORD RAISES THE RENT AND THE
RENTER IS FORCED TO MOVE BECAUSE
THE LANDRECORD RAISES THE RENT.
IN SEATTLE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S
CURRENTLY NO RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS
BILL, THIS PROPOSED BILL WOULD
ADDRESS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO
WHAT THIS BILL DOES, THE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR GETTING
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IS
BASICALLY TWO MONTHS THAT NEED
TO HAPPEN.
FIRST THE LANDLORD
NEEDS TO RAISE THE RENT BY 10%
OR MORE IN A SINGLE YEAR.
THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY CAN RAISE
IT, YOU KNOW, 9% EACH MONTH.
IT'S OVER THE COURSE OF THAT
YEAR.
10% OR MORE.
INCREASING
RENT.
AND THERE'S OTHER BILLS IN
SEATTLE THAT HAVE IN THE PAST
USED 10% AT THAT THRESHOLD FOR
WHAT THE COUNCIL DEEMS AN
EXTREMELY LARGE RENTAL INCREASE
FOR THE YEAR.
THE OTHER THING
THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THAT
NEEDS TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE
RENTER TO HAVE TO MOVE.
SO IF
THE LANDLORD, DISCUSSING WITH
LANDLORDS IN THE PAST, PEOPLE
HAVE RAISED SITUATIONS WHERE
THEY HAVE -- WHERE THEY SAY I
TALKED TO MY TENANTS.
I NEEDED
TO RAISE THE RENT BY 1515%.
15%.
I MADE SURE IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT MY TENANTS COULD AFFORD, SO
THEY DIDN'T MOVE.
NO PROBLEM.
THEY DIDN'T MOVE.
THAT SECOND
CONDITION WAS NOT MET.
SO
THERE'S NO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
BECAUSE NOBODY WAS DISPLACED.
OR
IF A RENTER MOVES BECAUSE THEY
OT A NEW JOB IN ANOTHER PLACE
AND THEY JUST MOVED TO THAT
OTHER LOCATION.
AND IT'S NOT
BECAUSE THE RENTS HAD BEEN
RAISED.
THE RENTS WERE ONLY
RAISED THE RATE OF INFLATION.
2%, 3%.
THERE'S NO RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE REQUIRED.
THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT THE RENTER TRIES
TO DO IN THEIR OWN LIFE.
IT
WASN'T FORCED BY THE LANDLORD
RAISING THE RENT.
BUT IF THE IF
THEY HAVE TO RELOCATE, THAT'S
WHEN THE RENTER IS ELIGIBLE FOR
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
THESE POINTS WERE
MADE.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE
TIME OFF WORK TO GO SEEK ANOTHER
APARTMENT.
THERE ARE MANY
COSTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
HAVING TO MOVE.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE ORDINANCES
WHERE THERE'S REMODELING OR THE
LANDLORD NEEDS TO REMODE THE
BUILDING.
AND THE CITY PAYS HALF
OF THE COSTS OF THE CLOOILZ.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. IN THIS
LEGISLATION, THE LANDLORD HAS
RAISED THE RENT BY 10% OR MORE
AND NOT EVEN SPENDING MONEY ON
REMODELING.
SO THERE'S A CERTAIN
ASSUMES GOING FORWARD.
ASSUMPTION GOING FORWARD.
THE
LANDLORD HAS MADE THIS DECISION
AND HAS THE MONEY COMING IN TO
PAY FOR IT.
AND THE 2019 ONE FOR
THE FIRST TIME ASKS PEOPLE THE
REASONS WHY THEY MOVE.
AND
THAT'S PROVIDED SOME COLOR ABOUT
THOSE REASONS.
THE COLOR BAR ON
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCENE.
THE
RED IS THOSE RED REASONS.
THE
35% IN THOSE RED BLOCKS ARE
PEOPLE WHO SAY DISPLACEMENT WAS
THE REASON THEY MOVED.
THIS BILL
IS NOT SPECIFIC TO 10% RENT
INCREASES OR -- IT'S MORE GENTLE
THAN THAT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST
SEATTLE.
YOU CAN LOOK AT WHERE
SEATTLE IS ON THE MAP.
AND
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF RENT
THERE.
SO THIS IS JUST AN IDEA
OF HOW SIGNIFICANT A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THIS IS.
THIS IS
GOING TO AFFECT MANY PEOPLE.
MANY PEOPLE ARE ECONOMICALLY
DISPLACED.
WE GOT THIS
INFORMATION FROM THE CITY.
THEY
ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON
ISOLATING THE SEATTLE DATA AND
WILL COME OUT WITH SEATTLE DATA
SOON.
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK
AT TO GIVE MORE PRECISE NUMBERS
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
FWLKS SLIDE,
PLEASE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THERE WE GO.
SO THERE ARE MANY
THINGS THAT THIS LEGISLATION
DOES.
THIS SLIDE IDENTIFIES A
COUPLE AREAS OF FURTHER WORK.
EITHER AS AN AMENDMENT WITHIN
THIS BILL OR IN SOME CASES, IT
MAY HAVE TO BE SUBSEQUENT BILLS.
FIRST THERE IS THE QUESTION OF
CREATING A FEE TO FUND THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
A FEE THAT LANDLOEFRDS WOULD PAY
WHEN THEY ECONOMICALLY EVICT
PEOPLE.
THE WAY THE LEGISLATION
IS DESIGNED, THERE'S NO DIRECT
PAYMENTS BETWEEN THE LANDLORD
AND THE RENTER FOR RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THERE'S TOO
MUCH AN UNFAIR POWER DYNAMIC
THERE.
SO INSTEAD ALL THE MONEY
GOES THROUGH THE CITY.
THE
LANDLORDS PAY THE CITY, THEN THE
CITY PAYS THE TENANT.
WILL BUT
THAT AROWSLLOWS THE POWERFUL
CITY TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY
ACTUALLY GETS PAID.
AND THAT'S
THE SAME WAY THE RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE WORKS.
THAT
DOES MEAN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PAID BY
LAN LORD LORDS.
LANDLORDS.
ALTHOUGH
WITH THAT ONE, THE CITY ACTUALLY
PAYS HALF OF IT.
SO IT'S NOT
EXACTLY AN APPLES AND ORANGES
COMPARISON.
OR IT IS AN APPLES
AND ORANGES COMPARISON.
IT'S
SOME KIND OF FRUIT FRUITS.
THIS IS
FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC EVICTIONS
WHEN RENTERS ARE FORCED TO MOVE
BY RENT INCREASE INCREASES.
THEY WERE
FOCUSED ON ONE TYPE OF NO-FAULT
EVICTION WHEN A LANDLORD EVICTS
SOMEBODY TO REMODEL OR DEMOLISH
THE BUILDING.
IT'S SOMETHING
THAT A LANDLORD DOES HAVE THAT
RIGHT TO DO THAT EVICTION UNDER
THE ORDINANCE.
SO RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED.
BUT
THERE'S OTHER TYPES OF NO-FAULT
EVICTIONS THAT ARE NOT COVERED
BY TRAIL AND ARE ALSO NOT
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
SUCH AS IF A
LANDLORD EVICTS SOMEBODY IN
ORDER TO SELL THE PROPERTY.
THAT
IS ANOTHER AREA OF WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
>> THANK YOU.
WE REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
APPRECIATE THAT
OVERVIEW.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THIS PRESENTATION. IS THERE
SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD?
>> SURE.
I'LL MAKE A COUPLE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
THERE ARE A
FEW CHANGES THAT ARE REFLECTED
IN THE NEW DRAFT.
THE AGENDA.
THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE
PREVIOUS DRAFT.
AND THE MAJOR
ONE IS THE ADDITION OF THE
ABILITY OF S, IT PI TO PURSUE
STPI TO PURSUE CITATIONS RATHER
THAN JUST NOTICES OF THE
VIOLATION.
IN OUR DISCUSSIONS
WITH SBCI ABOUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW
PROGRAM, THEY EXPRESSED A DESIRE
TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO DO ONE OR
THE OTHER.
DEPENDING ON THE
VIOLATION ITSELF.
>> AND I'LL SHARE THIS FOR
EVERYBODY.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT'S A
CITATION AND WHAT IS A NOTICE OF
VIOLATION?
>> SURE.
SO CITATIONS ARE
PRIMARILY THE SBCI FINDS THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION OF
THE LAW.
AND JUST SENDS A
CITATION THAT BASICALLY SALZ
HERE'S WHAT THE VIOLATION IS,
HERE'S HOW MUCH YOU PAY.
AND YOU
HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER TO COMPLY.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A TICKET THAT'S
SENT TO THE LANDLORD.
A NOTICE
OF VIOLATION CAN BE A LITTLE BIT
MORE INVOLVED JUST BECAUSE IT
MAY INVOLVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF
AN INVESTIGATION.
AND THEN THE
PENALTIES ARE MORE DISCRETIONARY
THAN THEY ARE FOR THE CITATION.
THE CITATION ITSELF IS INCLUDED
IN THIS LEGISLATION.
$1,000 FOR
THE FIRST PENALTY, AND $2,000
FOR A SUBSEQUENT PENALTY.
AND
THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION CAN BE A
LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE ABOUT WHAT
THAT IS.
AT THE POINT AT WHICH
THIS LEGISLATION GETS INCREASED
AND DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE, THE
MEMOSE I'LL PREPARE WILL LAYOUT
AL OF THE REASONS WE DO
CITATIONS VERSUS NOTI
VIOLATIONS.
AND WHAT THE
DIFFERENCES ARE BETWEEN THOSE
I'LL PREPARE WILL LAYOUT
ALL OF THE REASONS WE DO
CITATIONS VERSUS NOTICE OF
VIOLATIONS.
AND WHAT THE
DIFFERENCES ARE BETWEEN THOSE
THINGS.
WE DO HAVE SOME MORE
INFORMATION FROM THE EXAMINER
ABOUT WHAT THE SECOND RESOURCES
ARE GOING TO TAKE TO IMPLEMENT
THIS LEGISLATION.
SO IT CAN DO
ALL THE WORK OF ACCEPTING THE
COMPLAINTS, FIGURING OUT WHEN
THE PAYMENTS COME IN.
DETERMINING WHETHER SOMEBOD IS
QUALIFIED FOR LOCATION
ASSISTANCE AND MAKING THOSE
DETERMINATIONS.
THE HEARING
EXAMINER GOES, THERE ARE THE
CASES THAT WOULD GO TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER ARE APPEALS OF
THE DETERMINATION FROM SBCI.
AND
WITH THIS NEW ADDITION OF THE
CITATIONS, ANY BILLS FROM THAT
CITATION PROCESS GOES TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER AS WELL.
SO
BOTH SBCI AND THE HEARING
EXAMINER HAVE THE CURRENT
VERSIONS OF THESE BILLS.
SO IF
THERE ARE UPDATES TO THE CASE
LOAD ISSUES OR WORKLOAD ISSUES,
THEY WILL BE SHARING THOSE.
AND
WE WILL UPDATE THEM AT THAT
POINT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IS IT
POSSIBLE -- I TOTALLY FINISHED
IT'S NOT.
BUT AT THE NEXT
MEETINGY OR COMMITTEE IN
PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING, IT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL TO GET SORT OF A FLOW
CHART OF WHAT IT IS TENANTS
SHOULD DO.
AND ALSO COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO FOLLOW THROUGH AT
THAT POINT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I'D BE HAPPY TO
PREPARE A FLOW CHART.
>> FANTASTIC.
COUNCIL MEMBERS,
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WHILE
WE HAVE ASHA HERE AND ALSO --
YES.
AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT LAST
OPPORTUNITY.
PLEASE LOOK OVER
THE WORDING OF THE BILL.
LET ME
KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR
ANY CLARIFICATIONS NECESSARY.
ANY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND JULY
27th.
NOT SEEING ANY COMMENTS.
RENT CONTROL POLICY IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE NATION AND WHAT
ECONOMIST SAYS WHAT WORKS AND
WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
THAT IS
AVAILABLE -- THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS
AVAILABLE AT THE AGENDA
MATERIALS FOR THE LAST MEETING.
AND IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON MY
COUNCIL OFFICE WEBSITE.
SEEING
NO OBJECTIONS, WE'LL MOVE T
ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
WHICH IS THE
BILL TO INCREASE THE NOTICE
REQUIRED FOR RENT INCREASES FOR
SIX MONTHS FROM WHAT WE HAVE
TODAY, WHICH IS TWO MONTHS
NOTICE.
THE LEGISLATION IS, I
BELIEVE, FAIRLY STRAIGHT
FORWARD.
BUT AGAIN ANY QUESTIONS
COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE AT
THIS POINT?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAWANT.
I
DID HAVE A QUESTION.
SORRY I
DIDN'T RAISE MY HAND FAST
ENOUGH.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT THE PREVIOUS BILL.
AND I'M
GLAD ASHA IS THE SAME CENTRAL
STAFF ANALYST.
MAY I ASK A
QUESTION ABOUT THE PREVIOUS
PROPOSAL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> OKAY.
AND THANK YOU TO YOUR
STAFF FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS JUST
TRYING TO WORK THROUGH A
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE.
SO IF A
LANDLORD IS CHARGING $2,000 A
MONTH IN RENT AND THEY WANT TO
RAISE IT BY 10%, LET'S SAY, AND
SO THAT'S $200.
IF THE TENANT
CAN'T AFFORD THAT AND LEAVES,
THEN THE CITY WOULD PAY THAT
TENANT $6,000.
AND SO IF THE
LANDLORD IS SUCCESSFUL IN
RERENTING THAT UNIT TO SOMEBODY
ELSE FOR $2,200, IT WOULD TAKE A
COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THEM TO
RECOUP THAT $6,000.
SO I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S
APPROPRIATE OR THAT'S AN
ACCURATE HYPOTHETICAL.
BECAUSE I
THOUGHT I HEARD IN THE
PRESENTATION SOMEBODY SAY THE
LANDLORD COULD AFFORD TO DO
SOMETHING TO PAY THE $6,000.
AND
I WASN'T CLEAR.
THEY NECESSARILY
CAN.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC
OF THE THREE MONTHS.
YOU'RE
SAYING BECAUSE WHEN THEY MOVE,
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FIRST,
LAST MONTH'S RENT, SECURITY
DEPOSIT, IT'S PRETTY COMMON.
I
JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE MATH
THERE.
ASHA IS NODDING SO I
THINK I'M UNDERSTANDING IT.
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THE ONLY CLARIFICATION I'D
ADD IS THAT THE TENANT THAT
MOVES OUT WOULD GET THAT $6,000.
ASSUMING THEY WERE THE ONLY ONE
THAT WAS PAYING $2,000.
AND SO
IT'S JUST BASED ON HOW MANY, THE
WHOLE AMOUNT OF RENT AND HOW
MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE WITHIN THAT
UNIT.
SO THE WAY YOU EXPLAINED
IT IS CORRECT FOR ONE HOUSEHOLD.
IF IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS TWO
HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE PAYING A
TOTAL OF $2,000, AND FOR EXAMPLE
ONE OF THE TENANTS DECIDED TO
MOVE OUT, THE OTHER DIDN'T, THEN
THE LANDLORD WOULD BE PAYING
$3,000 TO THAT TENANT.
SO THE
WHOLE UNIT WOULD BE MOVING OUT,
IT WOULD BE $6,000.
IF JUST ONE
WERE MOVING OUT, IT WOULD BE
$3,000.
SO THE CALCULATION FOR
THE UNIT IS GONNA BE THE SAME.
HOW MUCH THE TENANT GETS DEPENDS
ON HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS THE RENT
IS BEING SPLIT BETWEEN, IF THAT
MAKES SENSE.
>> OKAY.
SO IF IT'S A
TWO-BEDROOM UNIT, AND IT'S
$2,000, AND THE LANDLORD
ATTEMPTS TO RAISE IT $2,200,
THOSE TENANTS MOVE OUT, THEY
WOULD EACH GET $6,000.
>> THEY WOULD EACH GET $3,000.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR
CLARIFYING THAT.
APPRECIATE IT.
THAT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD
RIGHT NOW, CHAIR SAWANT.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSON.
AND ALSO ASHA FOR YOUR
RESPONSE.
AND ON THAT, JUST TO
FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I KNOW WE ARE
LOOKING AT INFORMATION FROM
OTHER STATES JUST TO SEE WHAT IS
BEING DONE IN OTHER CASES LIKE
MAYBE OREGON OR SOME PARTS OF
CALIFORNIA.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT
NUMBERS.
BUT THEY ARE
COMPARABLE.
IN OREGON, THERE'S
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FOR
ECONOMIC EVICTIONS LIKE THIS.
AND IT IS A RELATIVELY SIMILAR
AMOUNT.
IN BOTH OREGON AND --
I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT
THE EXACT NUMBERS.
IN SOME CASES
IT'S A SET AMOUNT, RATHER THAN
BEING A PORTION RELATIVE TO THE
AMOUNT OF THE PREVIOUS RENT.
SO
FOR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD BE $4,000
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH RENT WAS
BEING CHARGED PREVIOUSLY.
WHEN
WE WERE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT
POLICY QUESTIONS IN THIS
LEGISLATION, WE FOUND THAT THE
REALITY IS THAT THE BIG
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE THAT IS
NEEDED FOR ONE PERSON MOVING OUT
OF A STUDIO AND THE RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE OF EIGHT PEOPLE
MOVING OUT OF AN EIGHT-PERSON
HOUSE.
BECAUSE
REALLY THEY WERE TRYING TO
CREATE A FORM OF RENT CONTROL IN
THAT WAY.
TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO PAY.
AND THE CORPORATE SAID,
WELL, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
THAT
WOULD BE RENT CONTROL.
BUT WHAT
THE AMOUNT THAT YOU WERE, THAT
CLOOIS WAS PEGGED AT, CLOOIS IS
RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE IS PEGGED AT, THAT
WOULD BE OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
IT WILL BE USEFUL
IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING THAT
ASHA SHARED WITH US, IT WILL BE
REALLY USEFUL TO HAVE THAT AND
WE CAN GET MORE PRECISE NUMBERS.
YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH ALL THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR
THAT QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON.
ANY QUESTIONS ON
EITHER OF THE TWO BILLS?
DON'T SEE.
>> MADAME CHAIR?
>> YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ,
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST HAVE A
QUICK QUESTION I WAS GONNA ASK
OFFLINE.
BUT IT'S PRETTY
STRAIGHT FORWARD.
I HAD A CHANCE
TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE.
THIS
IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SO WHY SIX
MONTHS OR 180 DAYS RATHER THAN
-- I UNDERSTAND 60 DAYS.
WHY SIX
MONTHS?
WHAT IS THE REASONING
BEHIND THAT?
WAS THERE A REASON
FOR THAT NUMBER OR TIME PERIOD?
>> TED, GO AHEAD.
I SEE YOUR
HAND IS UP.
>> SO AGAIN THERE'S A PRECEDENT.
IN THIS CASE IT'S MONTREAL.
BUT
THE OTHER -- AND THE WAY THAT
CAME TO US IS THE SEATTLE
RENTER'S COMMISSION WAS LOOKING
AT THIS ISSUE.
AND THIS IS A
COUPLE YEARS AGO.
BUT THEY WERE
LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE.
AND THEY
LOOKED AT BEST PRACTICES AROUND
THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE
WORLD.
AND THEY WROTE A LETTER
TO THE COUNCIL URGING SIX MONTHS
BASED ON THAT.
AND IT WAS ON
THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
>> AND WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER
CITY TO LOOK TO THAT THAT GIVES
THE LANDLORD HAS TO GIVE SIX
MONTHS NOTICE THAT THEY INTEND
TO RAISE THE RENT?
IT'S JUST THE
MONTREAL, CITY OF MONTREAL?
WHICH IS FINE.
I'M JUST TRYING
TO --
>> YES.
THE CITY OF MONTREAL.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, SEATTLE HAS
BEEN GRADED BY OTHER CITIES
FIRST AND WE FOLLOW THEM, BUT
THAT'S NOT TRUE IN THE CASE OF
MANY RENTERS' RIGHTS.
SO IN THAT
SENSE, NO, WE DON'T THOSE
EXAMPLES.
BUT MY OFFICE DIDN'T
COME UP WITH THIS NUMBER.
WE
FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE RENTERS' COMMISSION WHO
RECOMMENDED BASED ON -- THE DATA
THEY LOOKED AT AND FELT THAT WAS
A FAIR TIME FOR RENTERS.
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO DO A GOTCHA
THING.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT
IS WITH THE WAY THE RENTAL
MARKET IS AND HOW DIFFICULT IT
IS, AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE
PANDEMIC, AND PARTICULARLY WITH
PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES AND WHAT
WE'VE BEEN KEELING WITH, I'M
WONDERING IF WE CAN HAVE SOME
OFFLINE DISCUSSIONS BACK IN
COMMITTEE ABOUT MAYBE NOT SIX
MONTHS BUT CERTAINLY MORE THAN
60.
I'M MORE INCLINED TO SEE
THAT.
AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
TO THAT.
AND SEE IF THERE'S A
WAY TO ESCALATE THAT UP TO SIX
MONTHS.
THAT'S JUST ME TRYING TO
BE PRACTICAL.
ABOUT ADDRESSING
AN ISSUE AND GETTING IT ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE.
IF THAT'S
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ENTERTAIN
LATER, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW NOW
WHAT MY THINKING IS.
I JUST
WANTED TO SHARE THAT TO BE
STRAIGHT FORWARD AND HONEST.
AND
BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE
PRACTICAL ABOUT HOW WE MAKE
THINGS MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN US
TO LOOK AT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE
BRIEFING FROM TED AND FROM ASHA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
UPFRONT ABOUT WHAT YOUR THINKING
IS.
OBVIOUSLY I WOULD --
ANYTHING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN
WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, WHICH IS TWO
MONTHS, WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT
STEP FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW
I'M ALSO STRAIGHT FORWARD SO I
WILL OF COURSE RECOMMEND WHAT
THE RENTER'S COMMISSION HAS
RECOMMENDED.
BUT AT THE SAME
TIME I REALLY WELCOME ANY
DISCUSSION WITH YOUR OFFICE ON
THIS.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT
YOUR STAFF REACHES OUT TO MY
STAFF.
OR I'M HAPPY TO -- IF YOU
WANT TO SET UP A MEETING WHERE
WE ALL MEET ALONGSIDE OUR STAFF,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT TEN DAYS.
>> I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT -- AND
AS JUST QUICKLY REGARDING ITEM
NUMBER THREE, IN PRINCIPLE, I
AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT RENT
CONTROL.
I THINK WE JUST HAVE
DIFFERENCES IN WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN AN
ONGOING DISCUSSION THAT YOU AND
I HAVE HAD MANY TIMES OFFLINE,
BOTH PROFESSIONALLY, PERSONALLY,
INTELLECTUALLY.
AND I AM
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I THINK WE
JUST HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT
HOW WE WOULD IMPLEMENT THAT.
I
STILL WELCOME AND APPRECIATE
THAT YOU'RE VERY CANDID WITH ME
AND STRAIGHT FORWARD ABOUT HOW
THAT CAN BECOME A REALITY IN
THIS CITY.
WHATEVER SEATTLE RENT
CONTROL LOOKS LIKE.
SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WHEN WE MEET, I'M HAPPY TO
LOOK AT THE RELATION MORE
URGENTLY ON THE SIX MONTH THING
AND ALSO ON RENT CONTROL.
WE
HAVE A SPECIAL COMMITTEE SDLED
IN SEPTEMBER TO GO FORWARD WITH
THAT.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE WERE
SAYING ABOUT PRACTICAL.
OBVIOUSLY I WELCOME ANY
DISCUSSIONS THAT WE CAN HAVE AS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I DO FEEL
OBLIGATED TO POINT OUT THAT FOR
RENTERS, THIS IS A QUESTION,
WHEN WE ARRIVE AT
RECOMMENDATIONS, BASED ON
HOUSING ADVOCACY AND WHO STUDIES
ISSUES, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY
COME UP WITH THESE RELATIONS NOT
OUT OF WANTING TO HAVE
GRATUITOUS APPROACH AGA
LANDLORDS.
IT IS REALLY FROM A
PRACTICAL STANDPOINT.
WHAT IS IT
THAT RENTERS NEED TODAY, GIVEN
THE ONSLAUGHT OF RENT INCREASES
AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE
FACED?
IN THE LAST YEARS.
AND
LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL
STATISTICS.
SO JUST TO LET YOU
KNOW, THAT'S OUR STARTING POINT
AS WELL.
IT IS A PRACTICAL
STANDPOINT.
IT MAY NOT BE
PRACTICAL FOR SOME LANDLORDS WHO
WANT TO FIGHT THEIR TENANTS.
BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S THE
REALITY OF WHAT IT IS.
>> OKAY.
WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND AGAIN, I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
I PREFER
THAT MUCH MORE THAN IF WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO SPEAK FRANKLY WITH
ONE ANOTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS?
OR ASHA, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO
ADD?
I DON'T SE
REQUESTS.
SO I WILL MOVE MOVE
AHEAD TO THANKING EVERYBODY WHO
WANT PRESENT HERE.
AND ASHA AS
WELL.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
YOUR ONGOING THOROUGH WORK ON
THIS.
AND ALSO PLEASE GIVE OUR
THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION FOR ENGAGING ON
THIS.
VERY IMPORTANT BILL.
VERY
USEFUL WHAT YOU PRESENTED.
THE
STATISTICS.
I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE
HAVEN'T HAD THESE STATISTICS.
ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES FOR
THIS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
HAVE SOME STATISTICS IN THE 2019
STUDY, FROM THE REGIONAL
COUNCIL, WHICH SHOWS THAT THE
RENT, THE COST ON HOUSING OR
EVEN THE WORD RENT FOR RENTERS,
IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF
DISPLACEMENT.
THAT'S VERY USEFUL
TO LOOK AT.
AGAIN THANKS TO
EVERYBODY WHO ENGAGED IN ALL
THESE RENTER'S RIGHTS ITEMS.
ITEMS FIVE THROUGH EIGHT, THE
OVERSIGHT BOARD APPOINTMENT.
AND
WE HAVE JOSC VCQUEZ FROM THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST FOR THE
TECHNICAL POINT, IF SOMEBODY HAS
THE POWER TO DO SO, COULD
PROMOTE THE THREE APPOINTEES
FROM THE ATTENDANCE LIST TO THE
PANELIST LIST SO THEY CAN SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU,
COUNSEL MEMBER SAWANT AND FELLOW
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE IN
FRONT OF YOU TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FOUR
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
AND COMING
UP TODAY WE HAVE -- IT IS MY
HONOR TO INTRODUCE EMILY MYERS
TO BE APPOINTED TO ONE OF THE
LABOR UNION REPRESENTATIVE
SEATS.
ONE SECOND.
I'M GETTING
MY SCREENS CONFUSED HERE.
EMILY
IS CURRENTLY THE STAFF ORGANIZER
AND SERVES AS AN ELECTED
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER FOR UAW
4121 WHERE SHE DEVELOPS AND
IMPLEMENTS ORGANIZING STRATEGIES
AND MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT FOR
6,000 ACADEMIC STUDENT EMPLOYEES
AND POSTDOCS AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON.
TO BUILD
COLLECTIVE POWER, ADVOCATE FOR
FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS,
EQUITABLE HIGHER EDUCATION AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
SHE
COFACILITATES THEIR LOCAL
POLITICAL WORKGROUP, CLIMB
JUSTICE WORKGROUP AND
COMMUNICATIONS WORKGROUP WHICH
ADVOCATES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE AT
THE INTERSECTION OF LABOR AND
CLIMATE.
SHE WORKS TO DEVELOP
UNION MEMBERS TO BE LEADERS ON
CLIMATE AND WORKER ISSUES.
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO SOME
SCHEDULING CONFLICTS ARE.
SHE
WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY.
BUT
SHE IS THANKFUL OF THIS
RECOMMENDATION TO BE APPOINTED
TO THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
NEXT WE HAVE -- OH, ALSO
I GIVE YOU LABOR REPRESENTATIVE
RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENT,
ANDREA ORNELAS, WHO CURRENTLY
SERVES ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
FOR NEIGHBORORS, LOCAL 242.
WHERE SHE WORKS TO ORGANIZE
EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND
ELECTED LEADERS.
ANDREA HAS
HELPED UPLIFT COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP THROUGH A SERIES OF
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON
ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN UNITS AND
ANTIRACISM/POLICING FORUMS.
SHE
VOLUNTEERS THROUGH THE NEW
PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
WE
WANTED TO OPEN UP THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT.
AND EVERYONE FOR
APPOINTING ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT
I'M READY TO GET INVOLVED WITH
AND GET DONE.
I I JUST WANT
TOITIERATE THAT I WOULD LIKE, AS
WE TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUEL
TO ZERO CARBON, THAT WE SAVE
JOBS FOR PEOPLE IN THE FIELD.
AND HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES AS
WELL.
THAT WILL BE AFFECTED
EQUALLY.
AT THE SAME TIME.
SO
THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREA.
UP NEXT WE
HAVE DEEPA SEVAROCHAN, I HOPE
I'M SAYING THAT CRITICAL.
SHE
DEVELOPS POLICIES FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS TO
REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
FROM BUILDINGS.
WITH A CURRENT
FOCUS ON DECARBONIZING THE
ENVIRONMENT.
SHE WORKS SHIP ZERO
AND STATEWIDE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, FRONT AND CENTER,
SIERRA CLUB, NORTHWEST ENERGY
COALITION, WASHINGTON DECISIONS
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
SNIESHZ TACOMA.
PEOPLE FOR
CLIMATE ACTION.
250 SEATTLE AND
MORE.
THROUGH COORDINATION WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS,
SHE HAS HELPED ADVOCATE FOR THE
PASSAGE OF THIS STRONG
COMMERCIAL ENERGY CODE THIS YEAR
THAT ELIMINATES MOST FOSSIL FUEL
USAGE IN THE NEW COMMERCIAL AND
LARGE MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
SHE
ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD TO PASS A
CLEAN ENERGY RESOLUTION THAT
COMMITS THE DISTRICT TO
OPERATING WITH 100% CLEAN ENERGY
BY 2040.
ALONG WITH A STRONG
COALITION OF STUDENTS,
EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES.
DEEPA,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW
WORDS?
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING ME HERE.
AND I'M REALLY
HONORED TO BE RECOMMEND IN ORDER
APPOINTMENT.
WE WERE LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ANDREA
AND EMILY AND ALL THE OTHER
GREAT MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALREADY
BEEN APPOINTED TO THE BOARD.
AND
JUST WANTING TO REITERATE THAT
MY BEING HERE IS TO ELEVATE THE
WORK OF MY COMMUNITIES IN
RESPONDING TO THE CLIMATE
CRISIS.
BOTH IN TERMS OF THE
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE
ADDRESSING HEALTH IMPACTS AND
SAFETY IMPACTS AS WELL AS JOBS
IN THE BEST CONDITIONS.
AS WE
FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE O
FOSSILS.
THANK YOU.
>> AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE
HAVE CHRISTINA CHOO WHO IS
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPOINTED FOR
ONE OF THE YOUTH SEATS HERE FOR
THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
SHE IS A 2013 SEATTLE
RESIDENT WHO WAS INSPIRED BY THE
READING OF "ON FIRE." SHE HOLDS
AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND
LOOKS FOR WAYS TO HARNESS THE
TECH DAL KNOWLEDGE SHE HAS FOR
ENVISIONING A GREENER FUTURE IN
A COLLECTIVE SPACE.
SHE HOPES TO
USE HER PARTICIPATION IN THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
TO GET OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN CLIMATE ORGANIZING.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW
WORDS?
>> SURE.
HI, THANK YOU AGAIN.
AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT
PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT HOPING
THAT MY APPOINTMENT CAN HELP
BRING IN A LOT OF VOICES FROM
THE DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS
ACROSS THE SEATTLE AREA.
AND
ALSO ON THE BROAD SPECTRUM
BEYOND THAT GEOGRAPHICALLY.
AND
I THINK THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE
FORMING.
AND EXCITED THAT WE'RE
FINALLY GOING TO BE MEETING NEXT
WEEK.
AND JOSC, IT'S ALSO NICE
TO MEET YOU TOO.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS AN HONOR TO
BE PRESENTED THESE FOUR
APPOINTMENTS WHICH WOULD BRING
US TO A TOTAL OF 15 MEMBERS OUT
OF THE 19 OVERSIGHT BOARD
MEMBERS.
ALLOWING US TO START
MEETING.
AND WE'RE GONNA HOLD
OUR FIRST MEETING STARTING NEXT
WEEK.
AND THEN DIVE DEEP INTO
THE WORK OF ESTABLISHING AND
MOVING FORWARD WITH THE GREEN
NEW DEAL FOR SEATTLE.
IN THE
NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WE LOOK FORWARD
TO COMING BACK WITH SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOME REALLY
GREAT ADVICE FROM OUR FRONTLINE
AND DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE
HAVE HERE AT THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JOSC.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS
WORK.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO
RECOGNIZE FROM MY OFFICE ALSO
DOING A LOT OF WORK.
AND I KNOW
HE'S TALKED A LOT WITH ALL OF
YOU.
DEEPA AND EMILY, OF COURSE,
I KNOW YOU PERSONALLY.
I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BOTH.
I KNOW
EMILY IS NOT HERE TODAY,
UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT APPRECIATE
HER WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO
KNOW YOU AND CHRISTINA.
I'M VERY
EXCITED THAT THIS BOARD IS
FINALLY GOING TO MEET.
I KNOW IT
WAS A LONG ROAD GETTING HERE.
AND WE HAD SOME DIFFICULTIES.
BUT FINALLY IT IS HAPPENING.
AND
IT'S GREAT.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO
NOTE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT
OUR NOMINEES ARE OUTSPOKEN ABOUT
THE NEED TO THE NEED TO FOCUS ON
THE REAL QUESTION ABOUT
TRANSITION AND HOW CLIMATE
CHANGE AFFECTS US
PROPORTIONATELY BY THE SAME
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY
THE SKYROCKETING RENT.
THESE
ISSUES ARE CONNECTED.
COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSON WITH A QUESTION,
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAWANT.
I
WANTED TO COMMEND JOSC AND TED
AND YOUR OFFICE FOR ASSEMBLING
AN AMAZING BOARD.
WHEN THE
APPOINTMENTS CAME IN A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO, I WAS REALLY
IMPRESSED BY THE BACKGROUNDS OF
EVERYONE.
WE HAVE FOUR NEW
STELLAR CANDIDATES HERE.
IT
REALLY MAKES A STRONG BOARD.
I
WANTED TO REALLY APPRECIATE
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS.
AND WE'VE
WORKED WITH THEM ON SOME THINGS.
AND THEIR SCIENCE-BASED
APPROACH.
ONE OF THE THINGS, THE
NICE THINGS ABOUT DR. EMILY
MYERS WHO I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL WITH HER IN 2019, SHE WAS
A VERY STRONG ADVOCATE FOR
HAVING THE CITY ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE ISSUES.
AND WE HAD
SEVERAL STRONG CANDIDATES IN
THAT AREA LIKE KATHY TUTTLE.
BUT
EMILY MYERS WAS VERY STRONG
BRINGING HER SCIENCE BACKGROUND
TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
AND I'M
REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT SHE'LL
BE ON THIS BOARD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT,
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON.
ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
I WILL
NOTE THAT THE WORK OF THE
ADVOCATES LIKE WE HAVE ON THE
BOARD NOW IS GOING TO BE
CRUCIAL.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
DESPITE THE PRESSURES ON
WASHINGTON DC TO ACTUALLY DO
SOMETHING.
WE KNOW THEY'RE UNDER
PRESSURE.
WE KNOW WE HAVE SEEN
PROPOSALS THAT ARE HEADED IN A
BETTER DIRECTION THAN BEFORE.
BUT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN NOW WHAT
HAPPENED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
SOME OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS HAVE
BEEN LEFT BEHIND, GETTING MORE
COMPROMISED WITH THE
REPUBLICANS.
SO IT IS GOING TO
BE CRUCIAL, THE WORK THAT YOU
ALL ARE GONNA BE DOING.
OBVIOUSLY SEATTLE ALONE CAN'T DO
THIS.
WE NEED ADVOCATES IN EVERY
ESTATE.
EVERY CITY.
BUT THEN
EVERY CITY DOES MATTER.
I JUST
WANTED TO APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE
DOING IN THAT LARGER CONTEXT.
I'LL READ THE FOUR APPOINTMENTS
INTO RECORD.
APPOINTMENT OF
EMILY G. MYERS, MEMBER OF THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
APPOINTMENT OF ANDREA ORNELAS OF
MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD.
>> IF THERE IS NO OPPOSITION, I
WILL MOVE THE CONFIRMING A OF
ALL FOUR APPOINTMENTS AS A
SINGLE VOTE.
I MOVE ZOIMENTS
0196, 01967, 01968, AND 01969.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL IN FAVOR OF
THESE APPOINTMENTS -- OR
ACTUALLY, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
>> I'LL DO IT.
>> I KNOW.
I'LL ASK TO YOU DO
THE ROLL CALL.
[ CALLING ROLL ]
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
AND THANK YOU
ESPECIALLY TO OUR -- THE
NOMINEES.
OBVIOUSLY MOVED TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL WHERE NO DOUBT
IT WILL BE HEARTILY APPROVED.
I
WISH YOU GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR
UPCOMING WORK.
AND WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH
YOU AND HAVING YOU BACK TO
DISCUSS YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
I'M
SURE EVERYBODY IS FEELING THIS
WAY.
SHOULD IT BE REMINDER
ENOUGH.
AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING
IN THE FUTURE, IT IS HAPPENING
NOW.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
DEAL WITH IT.
THAT WAS THE LAST
AGENDA ITEM IN OUR COMMITTEE.
I
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
-- WE LEAVE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC JUST A NOTE ABOUT OUR
UPCOMING MEETING.
THAT IS THE
REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIME FOR OUR
COMMITTEE.
IT IS JULY 27th.
2:00
PM.
AND THAT IS TUESDAY.
THAT'S
OUR REGULAR TIME.
AND AS I SAID,
I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD FOR A VOTE.
I APPRECIATE
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ'S COMMENTS
ABOUT WHERE SHE IS.
AND I WOULD
LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER.
COUNCIL
MEMBERS PEDERSON, LEWIS AND
MORALES, ARE THE US KNOW IF THEY
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR
CONCERNS.
I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING RENTERS
AGAIN, JUSTIFYING.
AND ALSO
LANDLORDS TESTIFYING TODAY.
JUST
TO CLARIFY.
AS ALWAYS.
NONE OF
THE RENTERS RIGHTS BILLS WILL
AFFECT SMALL LANDLORDS WHO ARE
NOT GOUGING THEIR TENANTS.
SO I
HOPE THAT THE SMALL LANDLORDS
ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT.
AND WE
HAVE EVERY TIME JUST TO SHARE
WITH THE PUBLIC, EVERY TIME WE
HAVE SMALL LANDLOERPDS SPEAK IN
PUBLIC COMMENT OR WRITE TO US,
WE ARE PREACHING THAT TO THEM.
SOMETIMES WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
REACH AGREEMENT.
BUT WE
APPRECIATE THAT ABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ALL.
AND
FOR REACHING OUT TO THE TWO
SMALL LAN LORDS WHO TESTIFIED
TODAY AS WELL.
AND I ESPECIALLY
APPRECIATE THE LANDLORDS LIKE
SONIA WH SPOKE TODAY.
AND
OTHERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN TO US.
SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORT THOSE
RENTERS' RIGHTS.
HAVING SAID
THAT, AND IF THERE ARE NOTHING
FURTHER COMMENTS, I WILL THANK
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND ADJOURN THE MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BYE-BYE.